The Los Angeles Kings look to improve their NHL playoff standing Monday night as they host the Edmonton Oilers at Staples Center. The Kings begin play Monday in a tie with the Phoenix Coyotes atop the Pacific Division, with just two points separating the top four teams in the division.
Those four teams are battling for three playoff spots, and the Kings don't want to be the ones on the outside looking in at the end of the week. The Kings have not won a division title since 1991.
"For us, right now where we are in the standings, we need the points bad. It doesn't matter whether we're playing a team that's in it or out of it," defenseman Rob Scuderi told the Associated Press.
The Kings are 8-2-1 in their last 11 games, and have won six of their last seven games at Staples Center. The Kings have scored three goals per game in the 18 games since acquiring Jeff Carter at the NHL trade deadline, compared to 2.05 goals per contest before his arrival.
The Kings are 1-1-1 against the Oilers this season.
Monday night's 7:30 p.m. PDT game will be televised by Prime Ticket. For more news and notes on Kings hockey, be sure to read Jewels From The Crown.